GB2212137A

GB2212137A - Optical fiber storage cassette

Info

Publication number: GB2212137A
Application number: GB8829877A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David A Cooper; Robert W Barlow
Original assignee: GTE Products Corp
Current assignee: Osram Sylvania Inc
Priority date: 1987-12-23
Filing date: 1988-12-22
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-22
Also published as: GB2212137B; DE3839406A1; GB8829877D0

Description

- X - A -1 2212137

OPTICAL FIBER STORAGE CASSETTE Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for storing an excessive length of fiber such as an excessive length of optical fiber.

DescriMion of Prior The need for safe storage and proper arrangement of a length of fiber or the like is well known. in view of the many types of hardware and devices in use today to perform state of the art functions necessary for telecoamnications and datacamuiications systems, the safe storage and proper arrangement of optical fibers attached thereto has been a particular problem.

In certain fiber optic applications there is a tendency for a length of fiber to become entangled either. with itself or some other length of fiber. In certain applications there is also a tendency for undesirable fiber attenuation caused by the manner in which a length of fiber is stored. A particular concern when using lengths of delicate optical fibers is to prevent damage thereof.

The most typical means in use to arrange and protect such fibers is a simple tray arrangement. In such an embodiment, the delicate optical fibers are merely coiled around the perimeter of a tray. such uncontrolled coiling can lead to undesirably higher fiber attenuation caused by entanglement with other fibers in the same tray. In addition, the uncontrolled coiling results in an uncontrolled bend radius of each fiber which tends to adversely affect fiber life.

- 2 It is highly desirable to provide a device for storing excess lengths of fiber by means of which fiber entangluent is prevented.

It is further desirable to provide a device for storing excess lengths of fiber by means of which undesirable fiber attenuation is prevented.

It also desirable to provide a device for storing excess lengths of fiber without damaging such fiber.

It is further desirable to provide a device for storing excess lengths of fiber which device can be used in the many types of hardware and devices in use today in teleccmn-irdcations and dataccminications systems.

It is also, desirable to provide a device for storing excess lengths of fiber wherein the fiber is coiled in a controlled manner to provide a controlled bend radius for such fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE T-NVEWT

This invention, achieves these and other results by providing a device for storing an excessive length of fiber comprising a housing having a base and at least one sidewall extending from the base about the periphery of the base. Such sidewall forms an opening opposite the base. A hub is positioned within the housing and extends from the base towards the opening, the hub including a first end adjacent the base and a second end opposite the first end. A groove is thereby formed between a surface of the hub and an inner surface of the sidewall. A plate is spaced from the base and adjacent the second end, the plate having at least one edge spaced from the sidewall. The sidewall includes a first entrance bole and a first exit hole each of which tl.

t - 3 -1 extend through the sidewall to the groove. The f iber to be stored extends into the entrance hole, is wrapped about the hub the desired number of times, and extends out of the exit hole. A lid is hinged to the housing for covering the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIMOU OF THE DRAWIM Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention in an open mode; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a closed mode; and, Figure 3 is a view of Figure 2 taken along line 3-3. DESCPJ=CN OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The embodiment of this invention which is illustrated in the drawings is particularly suited for achieving the objects of this invention. Figures 1 to 3 depict a device 2 for storing an excessive length of fiber 4. The device is in the form of a container or housing inc luding a base 6 and at least one sidewall 8 extending from the base about the periphery of the base as best seen in Figure 1. In this manner the sidewall forms an opening 10 opposite the base 6.

A hub 12 is positioned within the housing and extends fram base 6 towards the opening 10. The hub 12 Can be part of base 6 are attached thereto. The hub 12 includes a first end 14 adjacent base 6 and a second end 16 opposite the f irst end 14. A groove 18 is formed between a surface 20 of the hub and the inner surface 22 of sidewall 8.

A plate 24 is spaced from base 6 and is adjacent to Second end 16 of hub 12. The plate 24 Can be part of hub 12 or attached thereto. It will be apparent from the drawings that base 6, hub 12 - 4 and plate 24 cooperate with one another to form a reel-like structure about which fiber 4 can be wound as depicted in Figure 3. To this end plate 24 includes at lea t one edge 26 which is spaced from sidewall 8 to form an opening 28 around the periphery of the housing through which the fiber can pass as it is wound upon the reel-like structure.

The sidewall, 8 includes a first entrance hole 30 and a first exit hole 32. Holes 30 and 32 extend through sidewall 8 to the groove 18. In this mamer, fiber 4 can be (a) caused to enter the housing through entrance bole 30; (b) wrapped about the reellike structure formed by base 6, hub 12 and plate 24 the number of turns reqqired to store any excessive length of fiber; and, (c) caused to exit fran the housing through exit hole 32. In the preferred embodiment, the first entrance hole 30 opens at edge 34 of sidewall 8 at one location on the sidewa.11, and the first exit hole 32 opens at edge 34 at an opposite location on the sidewall.

A lid 36 is hinged at 38 to the housing for covering opening 10. In the preferred embodiment, lid 36 includes a top surface 40 and a side surface 42 extending away fran the top surface. Side surface 42 includes a second entrance hole 44 at one location and a second exit hole 46 at an opposite location. Holes 44 and 46 extend through side surface 42 and also open at edge 48 of side surfce 42. In the preferred embodiment- as depicted in Figure 2, the first entrance bole 30 is aligned with the second entrance hole 44, and the first exit hole 32 is a-ligned with the second exit hole 46, when the lid is closed.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the device 2 is not limited to the embodizient depicted in Figures 1 to 1k Ii W N 3. For example, base 6, hub 12 and plate 24 can each be rectangular or square or any other desired configuration. However, in the preferred embodiment base 6, hub 12 and plate 24 are each oval in configuration as depicted in the drawings.

In operation, a length of optical fiber is wound upon the reel-like structure formed by base 6, hub 12 and plate 24 as described herein. In this mamer the fiber can be controllably coiled about the hub so than fiber entanglerient and undesirable fiber attenuation are prevented. Damage to the fiber is also prevented, and the fiber can be coiled to provide a bend radius controlled by the dirmnsion of the hub. The device of the present invention can be used as an add-on structure in the many types of hardware and devices in use today in teleconumications and datacommmications systems.

ihe embodiments which have been described herein are but sone of several which utilize this invention and are set forth here by way of illustration but not of lirnitation. It is apparent that many other egrbodiments which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art may be made without departing materially from, the spirit and scope of this invention.

- 6

Claims

We claim:

1. A device for storing an excessive length. of f iber comprising a housing having a base and at least one sidewall extending from. said base about the periphery of said base, said at least one sidewall fonning an opening opposite said base; a hub positioned within said housing and extending from said base towards said opening, said hub including a first end adjacent said base and a second end opposite said first end, a groove being formed between a surface of said hub and said at least one sidewall, a plate spaced fran said base and adjacent said second end, said plate having at least one edge spaced frar said at least one sidewall, said at least one sidewall having a f irst entrance bole and a first exit hole each of which extend through said at least one sidewall to said groove, and a lid hinged to said housing for coveruxg said opening.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first entrance hole opens at an edge of said at least one sidewall at one location on said at least one sidewall and said first exit hole opens at an edge of said at least one sidewall at an opposite location on said at least one sidewall.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said lid includes a top surface and at least one side surface extending away fran said top surface, said at least one side surface having a second entrance hole which extends through said at least one side surface and opens at an edge of said at least one side surface at one location on said at least one side surface and a second exit hole which extends through said at least one side surface and opens at said edge of said at least one side surface at an opposite location on X, 1 1 7 said at least one side surface, said f irst entrance hole being aligned with said second entrance hole, and said f irst exit hole being aligned with said second exit hole, when said lid is closed.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said base, said hub and said plate are each oval in configuration.

5. A device for storing an excessive length of fiber ccuprising a housing having a base and at least one sidewall extending frcin said base about the periphery of said base, said at least one sidewall forming an opening opposite said base; a hub positioned within said housing and extending from said base towards said opening, said hub including a first end adjacent said base and a second end opposite said first end, a groove being formed between a surface of said hub and said at least one sidewa.11, a plate spaced frcrn said base and adjacent said second end, said plate having at least one edge spaced fran said at least one sidewa-11, said at least one sidewall having a first entrance bole and a first exit hole each of which extend through said at least one sidewall to said 9110Oves said first entrance hole opening at an edge of said at least. one sidewall at one location on said at least one sidewall and said first exit hole opening at an edge of said at least me sidewall at an opposite location on said at least cne sidewall, and a lid hinged to said housing for covering said opening,- said lid including a top surface and at least one side surface extending away from said top surface, said at least one side surface having a second entrance hole which extends through said at least one side = face and opens at an edge of said at least me side surface at one location on said at least one side surface, and a second exit hole which extends thrcugh said - 8 at least one side surface and opens at said edge of said at least one side surface at an opposite location on said at least one side surface, said first entrance hole being aligned with said second entrance hole, and said first exit hole being aligned with said second exit hole, when said lid is closed.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said base, said hub and said plate are each oval in configuration.

7. A fib6r storage device substantially as described herein with reference tO the accompanying drawings.

1 7 Published 1989 atThe Patent Office.State House, 6671 High HoIborr,. LondonWC1R4TP. Further copies inkybe obtaaned from The Patent office Sales Brazic. St Maiy Cray. Orpington. Kent BF.5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87